Comments on: Winfred Dukes, Albany State, and Transportation http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/ Free Thinking for a Free World Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:58:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » An Airing of Difference http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-362 SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » An Airing of Difference Fri, 22 May 2009 22:01:28 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-362 [...] Airing of Difference Written by Tom on May 22, 2009 – 6:00 pm So now, after all the mess that the Albany delegation to the General Assembly has made in the press, WALB reported [...] [...] Airing of Difference Written by Tom on May 22, 2009 – 6:00 pm So now, after all the mess that the Albany delegation to the General Assembly has made in the press, WALB reported [...]

]]> By: SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » Who Needs Soap Operas? http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-336 SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » Who Needs Soap Operas? Wed, 20 May 2009 09:37:01 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-336 [...] to say is that Albany is the place to be for state politics it seems. After Winfred Dukes’ blow up, State Senator Freddie Powell Sims went and shook the whole thing [...] [...] to say is that Albany is the place to be for state politics it seems. After Winfred Dukes’ blow up, State Senator Freddie Powell Sims went and shook the whole thing [...]

]]> By: SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » State Rep Dukes Gets His Response http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-225 SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » State Rep Dukes Gets His Response Thu, 14 May 2009 12:04:37 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-225 [...] Senate Bills I Find Interesting (SB132 - SB141) (10)» Post Tea Party Commentary (9)» Winfred Dukes, Albany State, and Transportation [...] [...] Senate Bills I Find Interesting (SB132 – SB141) (10)» Post Tea Party Commentary (9)» Winfred Dukes, Albany State, and Transportation [...]

]]> By: SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » Carol Fullerton: Back In The Saddle http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-193 SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » Carol Fullerton: Back In The Saddle Sun, 10 May 2009 13:24:48 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-193 [...] did several Google searches, and did m...» Actually, I don't think that nullificati...» There's an old saying that says there ar... » Ken Hodges for AG? Let's Hope Not (26)» [Poll] Is providing water a basic function of [...] [...] did several Google searches, and did m…» Actually, I don’t think that nullificati…» There’s an old saying that says there ar… » Ken Hodges for AG? Let’s Hope Not (26)» [Poll] Is providing water a basic function of [...]

]]> By: Tom http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Tom Fri, 08 May 2009 20:51:31 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-181 There's an old saying that says there are two things you never want to let people see you make, laws and sausages. This is definitely one of those moments. As for how Dukes makes it through this mess, I really think it depends on how this is spun. Contrary to what many think, everyone spins news to make sure they look the best they can. Dukes' spin, if sufficient, may actually improve local support. It's all in how you play the game. So far though, Dukes looks like a freshman class vice president who suddenly found himself handling politics on a DC level. That's never a good thing. There’s an old saying that says there are two things you never want to let people see you make, laws and sausages. This is definitely one of those moments.

As for how Dukes makes it through this mess, I really think it depends on how this is spun. Contrary to what many think, everyone spins news to make sure they look the best they can. Dukes’ spin, if sufficient, may actually improve local support. It’s all in how you play the game. So far though, Dukes looks like a freshman class vice president who suddenly found himself handling politics on a DC level.

That’s never a good thing.

]]> By: Slyram http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Slyram Fri, 08 May 2009 18:31:07 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-180 If my memory serves me correctly, Rufus Montgomery worked for Albany State University as an administrator a few years ago—unofficially, I always thought he was considering rooting himself in the community to challenge Rep. Sanford Bishop in the future and Rufus is made of congressional timber. Some folks say those plans went south when he realized that Bishop would be harder to beat (at the time) than one would think. The fallout of this whole mess might Albany leaders questioning Montgomery’s commitment to the city against his commitment to his GOP brethren to run state government. That might be a mistake because Rufus’s firm was hired in part based on his connections and relationships with state GOP leaders. What we just witnessed was the legislative and appropriations process functioning in plain sight and it is a bloody process. All of the Obama and McCain supporters who wanted transparency in government just saw some on the state and local levels. Dukes and Montgomery will be just fine because both rose to their level of success from being sturdy. Next time, this situation will be resolved over cigars in the proverbial backroom and we will be back to business as usual because what we saw was Dukes basically saying “bro you should have come to me first rather than blindsiding me with the truth.” Actually, Montgomery should have (and like did) alert Dukes to the coming punitive actions during the developing drama. Dukes would have option of capitulating or standing firm in his beliefs. Warn-a Brother If my memory serves me correctly, Rufus Montgomery worked for Albany State University as an administrator a few years ago—unofficially, I always thought he was considering rooting himself in the community to challenge Rep. Sanford Bishop in the future and Rufus is made of congressional timber.

Some folks say those plans went south when he realized that Bishop would be harder to beat (at the time) than one would think. The fallout of this whole mess might Albany leaders questioning Montgomery’s commitment to the city against his commitment to his GOP brethren to run state government. That might be a mistake because Rufus’s firm was hired in part based on his connections and relationships with state GOP leaders.

What we just witnessed was the legislative and appropriations process functioning in plain sight and it is a bloody process. All of the Obama and McCain supporters who wanted transparency in government just saw some on the state and local levels. Dukes and Montgomery will be just fine because both rose to their level of success from being sturdy. Next time, this situation will be resolved over cigars in the proverbial backroom and we will be back to business as usual because what we saw was Dukes basically saying “bro you should have come to me first rather than blindsiding me with the truth.”

Actually, Montgomery should have (and like did) alert Dukes to the coming punitive actions during the developing drama. Dukes would have option of capitulating or standing firm in his beliefs. Warn-a Brother

]]> By: Tom http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Tom Thu, 07 May 2009 20:42:40 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-179 Roger: In all honesty, I don't disagree with Dukes positions as I remember them. I think he missed the boat in not understand that it was political retribution and calling it such, which would have been 100% honest from what I can tell. This would have, in my opinion, eased any ill feelings towards Rep. Dukes from people here in Albany, if there is any. What I personally fault him for is not having the political skills to recognize this. Libertarians like to claim to be the "party of principle", so it would be hypocritical of me to say that Dukes was wrong to vote his principles (provided that's what he did. I can't say what's going on in anyone's mind and I definitely don't know Mr. Dukes well enough to speculate). But not recognizing what happened? He's been in the General Assembly long enough to know how this all works, wouldn't you agree? Roger: In all honesty, I don’t disagree with Dukes positions as I remember them. I think he missed the boat in not understand that it was political retribution and calling it such, which would have been 100% honest from what I can tell. This would have, in my opinion, eased any ill feelings towards Rep. Dukes from people here in Albany, if there is any. What I personally fault him for is not having the political skills to recognize this.

Libertarians like to claim to be the “party of principle”, so it would be hypocritical of me to say that Dukes was wrong to vote his principles (provided that’s what he did. I can’t say what’s going on in anyone’s mind and I definitely don’t know Mr. Dukes well enough to speculate). But not recognizing what happened? He’s been in the General Assembly long enough to know how this all works, wouldn’t you agree?

]]> By: roger http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-178 roger Thu, 07 May 2009 13:46:42 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-178 Dukes was punished for telling the truth that the GOP leadership gave us the largest property tax increase in GA history by not funding the Homestead Exemption Tax Credit. When your property tax bills come out this fall, every homeowner will be billed separately for an average of $300. This is going to kill the GOP across GA, I think this is a great opportunity for the Libertarians to step up and become the second party of our GA two-party system. Dukes was punished for telling the truth that the GOP leadership gave us the largest property tax increase in GA history by not funding the Homestead Exemption Tax Credit. When your property tax bills come out this fall, every homeowner will be billed separately for an average of $300. This is going to kill the GOP across GA, I think this is a great opportunity for the Libertarians to step up and become the second party of our GA two-party system.

]]> By: Roscoe http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Roscoe Thu, 07 May 2009 11:42:31 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-177 As of 7:45 a.m. May 7, 2009 The Governor has not signed SB200 - just hinted that he will. As of 7:45 a.m. May 7, 2009 The Governor has not signed SB200 – just hinted that he will.

]]> By: In Albany, a confrontation over payback worth $1.8 million | Political Insider http://swgapolitics.com/index/2009/05/05/winfred-dukes-albany-state-and-transportation/comment-page-1/#comment-176 In Albany, a confrontation over payback worth $1.8 million | Political Insider Wed, 06 May 2009 21:35:02 +0000 http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/?p=772#comment-176 [...] legislator said was unfair to average Georgians. There’s also some speculation at the web site SWBA Politics that Duke’s failure to vote for or against S.B. 200, the bill to reorganize the state Department [...] [...] legislator said was unfair to average Georgians. There’s also some speculation at the web site SWBA Politics that Duke’s failure to vote for or against S.B. 200, the bill to reorganize the state Department [...]

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